Pasadena , Maryland -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Children point at the glass as a long train rounds the bend and Thomas the Tank Engine passes overhead . Outside , a flashing red signal tells neighbors it 's time to hop aboard .

Welcome to John and June Sturgeon 's indoor train garden , a collection of model trains the couple have been sharing with friends and neighbors every holiday season for nearly 15 years .

`` We love it , that 's why we do it , '' says June Sturgeon .

The collection began with a train John 's father gave him as an infant 62 years ago . John still has the train , and many more .

The garden has grown to include 11 intertwined train sets , divided into summer and winter scenes . Once the collection outgrew their house , the Sturgeons built a detached building the size of a two-car garage specifically to hold the display year round .

`` I venture to say , each year I put at least a hundred hours in here , '' John says . `` That 's before Christmas and setting everything up and changing this around ... and fine-tuning , fixing anything that 's broke . ''

Last year , more than 1,200 people followed the lit path to the backyard garage , including regulars like Jason Gauchier and his two children , who come at least once a week when the display is open .

`` They 've been looking forward to it for about three months now , '' says Gauchier , who brought his children on opening night as he has for five years . `` And then ... when it closes -LSB- they 're -RSB- looking forward to it next year . ''

Besides the regulars , there are first-time guests like Sara Dolan , who came with her granddaughter . `` It 's absolutely wonderful , '' Dolan said , `` all of the extra things that they 've added , it 's just fabulous . ''

The collection can be overwhelming at first , with all of the sounds and flashing lights that fill the building . The miniature villages and communities are filled with happy people , living a peaceful life in a different time . With all the wires out of sight , it looks like magic .

The Sturgeons have worked consistently to make additions to the train garden .

`` Basically it is an all year thing , but the final push is from September 'til now '' June said .

Adds John , `` It usually takes us a month or so to get the backyard here all decorated . ... It 's quite a bit of work . '' There 's a separate garage for repairs .

`` There 's a train we added this year that has 30 cars on it . Well , it 's 29 cars plus the engine makes it 30 , '' John says . `` I 've tested it a little bit -- I 'm hoping we do n't have any problems with that , cause that 's a pretty long train . So it runs the whole length of a board , approximately 30 feet . ''

This year John , a retired police officer , also added a scene with a doughnut delivery truck being robbed as a police cruiser comes to the rescue . The regular guests enjoy seeing the new details , but they also come to see Santa Claus .

`` Santa Claus is here every night , every night until Christmas , and most of -LSB- the children -RSB- bring me their wish list , '' John says behind the white beard and red suit .

The Sturgeons open their collection for 20 nights each year leading up to Christmas . The evening routine begins with setting up the outside lights and inflatable decorations . Visitors know they 've reached the right place when they see the brightest house on the street , complete with holiday music . The front window of the house has a replica of the leg-shaped lamp from the classic holiday movie `` A Christmas Story '' .

`` It does my heart good to see the little sparkle in their eyes when they come around and see Santa or see the trains , and it lights my heart up . ''

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Maryland couple open their indoor train garden to the public each holiday season

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Model train collection started with a train given to John Sturgeon as an infant

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The collection has grown to 11 intertwined train sets divided into summer and winter scenes

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The Sturgeons built a detached garage for the display , which drew 1,200 visitors last year